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Sanofi (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) and
Genzyme,
a Sanofi Company, today congratulated John Zawacki, MD, of UMass
Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, Massachusetts, the recipient of
the 2012 Schwartz Center...

Sanofi (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) and Genzyme, a Sanofi Company, today congratulated John Zawacki, MD, of UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, Massachusetts, the recipient of the 2012 Schwartz Center Compassionate Caregiver Award, for his display of extraordinary compassion in caring for patients and families. Sanofi Oncology and Genzyme were the co-sponsors of the award, which was announced Thursday, November 8th, at the 17th Annual Kenneth B. Schwartz Compassionate Healthcare Dinner at the Boston Convention Center.

Dr. Zawacki is a gastroenterologist who cares for patients with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome. He has also taught and mentored hundreds of medical students, residents and fellows, telling them, “As long as you share your feelings and have good intentions, the words will come. It [being a doctor] is not a scripted experience.”

The Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the relationship between patients and their healthcare providers, established the award in 1999 to honor healthcare providers who practice compassionate care, which includes effective communication, emotional support, mutual trust and respect, involving patients and families in healthcare decisions, and treating patients as people.

Debasish Roychowdhury, Head of Sanofi Oncology, and David Meeker, President and CEO of Genzyme, warmly praised Dr. Zawacki and this year’s other nominees for embodying Ken Schwartz’s deeply held belief that what matters most during an illness is the human connection between patients and their caregivers.

The Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare ( www.theschwartzcenter.org) was founded in 1995 by Ken Schwartz, a Boston healthcare attorney who died of lung cancer at the age of 40 and found that what mattered to him most as a patient was the compassionate care he received from his caregivers. He established the Schwartz Center just days before his death to ensure that all patients and families receive compassionate care.

About Genzyme, a Sanofi Company

Genzyme has pioneered the development and delivery of transformative therapies for patients affected by rare and debilitating diseases for over 30 years. We accomplish our goals through world-class research and with the compassion and commitment of our employees. With a focus on rare diseases and multiple sclerosis, we are dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of the patients and families we serve. That goal guides and inspires us every day. Genzyme’s portfolio of transformative therapies, which are marketed in countries around the world, represents groundbreaking and life-saving advances in medicine. As a Sanofi company, Genzyme benefits from the reach and resources of one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, with a shared commitment to improving the lives of patients. Learn more at www.genzyme.com.

About Sanofi Oncology

Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA and Vitry-sur-Seine, France, Sanofi Oncology is dedicated to translating science into effective therapeutics that address unmet medical needs for cancer and organ transplant patients. Starting with a deep understanding of the disease and the patient, Sanofi Oncology employs innovative approaches to drug discovery and clinical development, with the ultimate goal of bringing the right medicines to the right patients to help them live healthier and longer lives. We believe in the value of partnerships that combine our internal scientific expertise with that of industry and academic experts. Our portfolio includes 10 marketed products and more than 15 investigational compounds in clinical development, including small molecules and biological agents.